BiotechCorp’s Satellite office at Northern Corridor to Nurture Bio-Based Developments

Kuala Lumpur, April 1st 2013 ~ In full support of the Biotechnology Transformation Program and the rapid progress of the nation’s bio-based industry, Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation (BiotechCorp) announced today that it has opened a new satellite office in Penang, to nurture developments in the Northern region of Malaysia.

“The new office represents BiotechCorp’s commitment to support and facilitate the bio-based industry of this country by expanding our operations and services. The rapid development of the biotechnology industry in the northern region has spurred the growth of biotechnology centers like the NCER Biotech Centre and the Penang Science Park, thus creating the right ecosystem for the industry to flourish,” commented Chief Executive Officer of BiotechCorp, Dato’ Dr. Mohd Nazlee Kamal. At the same time, announcements of international and local companies that have decided to invest in the bio-based field in the northern region are expected to multiply the potential of the regional bio-based industry.

With the setting up of the satellite office in Penang, BiotechCorp is confident that it will attract more investments within the bio-based industry that will enhance the potential of biotechnology industry within the region. “Keeping in mind that Penang houses the second largest medical devices industry in our country, where it is also the locus for all the major MNC players of that industry in the likes of B. Braun, Plexus, and Agilent Technologies, establishing the satellite office in the Northern region, specifically in that state, is the most strategic step in working towards enhancing a more conducive ecosystem and facilitating the opportunities for the investor and the industry with regulatory authorities in the Northern region states. Looking at the local medical devices market size of USD808 million in 2011, we hope we will streamline and coordinate project implementations while monitoring existing bio-based companies to fully tap into this potential,” added Dato’ Nazlee.

The satellite office, located at the Korridor Utara Biotech Center in Northern Corridor Economic Region, will be positioned as the liaison center for local companies interested in obtaining various grants and incentives for the biotechnology industry in line with the mandate in the National Biotechnology Policy and Biotechnology Transformation Program.